Published in the Jan. 7 – 23, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
Mike Wasserman
Looking back on my year as president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, we’ve had an eventful 12 months. It’s been quite a year, from launching the county’s first official Wine Trail to establishing the South County Family Justice Center in Morgan Hill.
Morgan Hill residents have no doubt noticed the brown and purple signs in and around town. The new 28-mile Wine Trail loop through Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy is now marked with directional wayfinding signage to help drivers locate wineries. “Don’t Drink and Drive” signs can also be found along the route. By sitting down with the wine community in South County, we were able to overcome past obstacles and create a program that literally puts South County on the map.
When the South County Family Justice Center opened late last summer in Morgan Hill, one domestic violence survivor described how her abuser had tried to kill her three times before she got help. She then had to navigate a dizzying number of agencies at different locations in San Jose. No more. The new Family Justice Center — co-located with Community Solutions — helps domestic violence victims gain access to all the services they need, from advocacy and case planning to filing restraining orders.
Another new service we established this year is Veteran I.D. cards issued by the Santa Clara County Office of Veterans Services. The identification cards can be used as proof of military service — instead of carrying DD-214 papers — to access services, benefits and receive discounts offered at many local businesses.
We made headway in the battle against modern-day slavery – forced labor human trafficking. The county’s new Human Trafficking Commission is actively investigating the nature and scope of human trafficking in the County, including both labor and sex trafficking. We will collaborate with regional, national, and international partners to share information and strategies for ending these practices.
Thanks to the new “Water To Go” initiative, 38 Santa Clara County schools now have hydration stations to encourage kids to choose water instead of soda and to reduce disposable plastic water bottle usage. This effort is the result of a partnership with FIRST 5 and the Santa Clara Valley Water District as part of ongoing efforts to increase water access in schools, especially those with student populations at high-risk for obesity.
We also adopted regulations for e-cigarettes (“vaping”) in order to combat the alarming increase in use among children and adolescents. The changes include restricting e-cigarette sales near schools, and banning smoking in common areas of multi-unit residences in unincorporated county areas and on county properties.
Smartphone users can download three new free county services apps. SCCVOTE allows users to access voter services including finding a polling location and tracking mail ballots. Residents can report problems with harmful vectors like mosquitoes, rats, and wildlife with SCCVECTOR. And the Santa Clara County Library District app, SCCL, gives users access to the library’s website and catalog. Another app will soon enable hikers at county parks to report problems with trails.
In addition to these accomplishments, the County Library District — of which the Morgan Hill and Gilroy libraries belong — celebrated its 100 year anniversary. The County passed a balanced almost $5 billion budget, launched a new easy-to-use restaurant grading system, and reduced County water usage in response to the drought. We also raised the profile of the County and the “Real Life Help” provided to our 1.9 million residents, thanks in part to local newspapers like Morgan Hill Life that cover County topics that residents are affected by and care about.
This year is already shaping up to be no less busy: A few County policy discussions to follow are the next steps for our voting system, and outfitting sheriff’s deputies with body-worn video cameras.
Please visit my website to sign up for my monthly newsletter, or to contact me or a member of my staff.
Mike Wasserman is the Morgan Hill representative for the Santa Clara County Supervisor, District 1.
Mike Wasserman
Contact: www.supervisorwasserman.com
